Alstroemeria plant named &#39;konpulse&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  alstroemeria  plant particularly distinguished by cup-shaped, orange-red to red flowers with yellow spots and green nerves, compact, vigorous, free branching growth habit and a continuous flowering response from late spring to fall is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Alstroemeria.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Konpulse’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of alstroemeria, botanically known as Alstroemeria and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Konpulse’. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in November 1999 in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands. The female parent was the proprietary alstroemeria plant ‘3150-30’ (unpatented), while the male parent was the proprietary alstroemeria plant ‘5261-4’ (unpatented).

The new cultivar was created in 1999 in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by in vitro rhizome divison in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands over a three year period. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for with the European Union on April 10, 2006.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) Cup-shaped, orange-red to red flowers with yellow spots and         green nerves; and     -   2) Compact, vigorous and free branching growth habit; and

3) Continuous flowering response from late spring to fall.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new alstroemeria plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, buds and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 24-week old plant grown in a greenhouse for the first 18-weeks and then transferred outside in the Spring-Summer in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliage.

FIG. 2 shows the mature flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Konpulse’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 36-week old plants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 19-cm to 33-cm pots in 2005 and grown in a glass greenhouse between 6° C. and 30° C. for the first 18 weeks and then transferred outside the greenhouse. Observations were made when the plants were in full flower in September 2005. Color readings were taken under natural light in the greenhouse. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Liliaceae.         -   Botanical.—Alstroemeria.         -   Common name.—Alstroemeria , Peruvian lily, Lily of the             Incas. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘3150-30’, a proprietary red-flowered             alstroemeria plant (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘5261-4’, a proprietary red-flowered             alstroemeria plant (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Perennial.         -   Habit.—Compact, freely branching, vigorous.         -   Overall plant shape.—Bowl-shaped.         -   Height.—30.0 cm.         -   Diameter or area of spread.—48 cm.         -   Propagation.—In vitro rhizome division.         -   Time to produce a flowering plant.—6 to 14 weeks after stem             initiation.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—18 weeks for a             19-cm to 33-cm pot.         -   Keeping quality.—14 days.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Medium tolerance to high             temperatures; not frost resistant; use as garden plants.         -   Rhizome.—Shape: Elongate, rounded with basal branching             Color: RHS 162D Length: 4.0 cm Diameter: 0.7 cm Texture:             Smooth. -   Stems:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Strength.—Sturdy.         -   Color.—RHS 144A.         -   Diameter of stems and lateral braches.—0.5 cm.         -   Length of stems and lateral branches.—30 cm.         -   Number of lateral branches.—Numerous.         -   Internode length.—0.7 cm to 1.9 cm.         -   Pubescence.—Absent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Scattered; leaves are turned upside down.         -   Durability to stresses.—Medium.         -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—16.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Apex.—Pointed.         -   Base.—Narrow.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color (mature leaves).—Upper surface: RHS 137D Lower             surface: RHS 137C.         -   Color (immature leaves).—RHS 144A (both surfaces).         -   Size.—Length: Upper part: 12.0 cm Lower part: 4.8 cm Width             Upper part: 3.9 cm Lower part: 1.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.—         -   Venation.—Type: Parallel Color: Upper surface: RHS 138B             Lower surface: RHS 144A.         -   Pubescence.—Absent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Color.—RHS 53A with RHS 143A (green) nerves.         -   Shape.—Oval.         -   Size.—Length: 3.5 cm Diameter: 1.6 cm. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Free and continuous from late Spring to             Fall; self-cleaning.         -   Inflorescence type and arrangement.—Single cup-shaped             flowers arranged in a compound umbel.         -   Height.—10.4 cm.         -   Width.—10.5 cm.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—2 to 10.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—1.         -   Quantity of flowers buds per lateral stem.—1 to 3.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—25 to 100.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—7 to 20 days (depending on             temperature).         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—7 to 14 days (depending on             temperature).         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 143C with spots of RHS 187A Length: 1.5             cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Angle: 20° Strength: Strong Texture:             Smooth.         -   Pedicel.—

Color: RHS 187A with RHS 143C spots Length: 2.5 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Angle: 15° Strength: Strong.

-   Flowers:     -   -   Type/Form.—Cup-shaped.         -   Size.—Height (flower depth): 6.2 cm Diameter: 4.3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Outward. -   Perianth:     -   -   Arrangement: Six segments arranged in two whorls, each whorl             composed of two lateral and one median segment.         -   Inner perianth.—Appearance: Dull Texture (both surfaces):             Smooth Shape: Lanceolate Apex: Pointed Base: Attenuate             Margin: Entire Length: Lateral segments: 5.6 cm Median             segment: 4.9 cm Width: Lateral segments: 1.2 cm Median             segment: 1.2 cm Color (when opening): Lateral segments:             Upper surface: RHS 151 D with RHS 53B tip Lower surface: RHS             53B with RHS 1B spots Median segment: Upper surface: RHS 45A             with RHS 1B spots Lower surface: RHS 53C with RHS 1B spots             Color (fully opened): Lateral segments: Upper surface: RHS             39B base, RHS 14A center and RHS 46B tip Lower surface: RHS             46B Median segment: Upper surface: RHS 46B Lower surface:             RHS 42B base, RHS 144A spots and RHS 53C tip Colors fading             to: RHS 34A base and RHS 53B tip for all segments; markings             do not fade         -   Outer perianth.—Appearance: Dull Texture (both surfaces):             Smooth Shape: Round Apex: Obovate with a long and small             lower part Base: Attenuate Margin: Enitre Length: Lateral             segments: 4.7 cm Median segment: 4.7 cm Width: Lateral             segments: 1.9 cm Median segment: 1.8 cm Color (when             opening): Lateral segements: Upper surface: RHS 53B Lower             surface: RHS 53B with RHS 143C nerve Median segment: Upper             surface: RHS 53B Lower surface: RHS 46A Color (fully             opened): Lateral segements: Upper surface: RHS 45A Lower             surface: RHS 53B Median segment: Upper surface: RHS 53B             Lower surface: RHS 46A Colors fading to: RHS 53B for all             segments; markings do not fade -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 6 Anther: Shape: Oval Size: Length: 0.7             cm Width: 0.2 cm Color: RHS 162A Pollen: Abundant Pollen             color: RHS 198A.         -   Pistil.—Quantity: One Length: 4.1 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 3.5 cm Color: RHS 53C         -   Stigma.—Shape: Pistil divided into 3 curled parts Color: RHS             53A Ovary color: Upper surface: RHS 59A Lower surface: RHS             146B. -   Fruit and seed set:     -   -   Seed.—Quantity: 1 to 5 Shape: Round with extended nerves             Length: 0.3 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm Color: RHS 164A.         -   Fruit.—Number of fruit per flower: 1 Length: 0.7 cm             Diameter: 0.7 cm Color: RHS 141C with some RHS 166A -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL CULTIVAR

A comparison with the female parent, a proprietary alstroemeria plant, ‘3150-30’ (unpatented), is not possible because detailed information is unknown.

A comparison with the male parent, a proprietary alstroemeria plant, ‘5261-4’ (unpatented), is not possible because detailed information is unknown.

‘Konpulse’ is similar to the commercial variety ‘California’ (unpatented) however, there are differences as listed in Table 1 below: TABLE 1 Comparison of Characteristics between ‘Konpulse’ and ‘California’ Characteristic ‘Konpulse’ ‘California’ Overall plant shape Bowl-shaped Bushy Quantity of leaves 16 36 per lateral branch Leaf shape Obovate Lanceolate Inflorescence height 10.4 cm 18.3 cm Inflorescence width 10.5 cm 19.5 cm Quantity of flowers 2 to 10 3 to 18 per inflorescence Inner perianth colors, RHS 34A (orange-red) base RHS 11B (yellow) fading to: and RHS 53B (red) tip Outer perianth colors, RHS 53B (red) RHS 11B (yellow) fading to: Pedicel length  2.5 cm  1.4 cm 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of alstroemeria plant as shown and described herein. 